Taiwanese-Americans Call Upon President Obama To Stand By Taiwan During Xi Jinping Meeting

In a letter dated, September 21st , 2015, Dr. Mark Kao, president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), a Taiwanese‑American grassroots organization that promotes freedom, human rights and democracy for the people in Taiwan, calls upon President Obama to stand by Taiwan during his upcoming meeting with President of China Xi Jinping.

Dr. Kao writes: “We understand that the United States needs to engage China. However, such engagement should not come at the expense of America’s core values – freedom, democracy and human rights, as embodied in the country of our birth, Taiwan.”

He urges President Obama “…to remind Mr. Xi that it is a core interest of the United States that the future of Taiwan be resolved peacefully and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan. We also urge you to refrain from proffering U.S. respect for China’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” as China lays unjustified claims to sovereignty over Taiwan.”

Dr. Kao concludes: “To safeguard Taiwan is to embrace freedom, democracy and human rights. This is the best way to maintain peace and stability in Asia and is consistent with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.”

Meanwhile, On Friday, September 25th 2015, from noon – 2:00pm, a broad coalition of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Chinese human rights activists and Taiwanese Americans will hold a rally in front of the White House at Lafayette Square during Xi’s White House visit to protest Chinese repression in China, Tibet, and East Turkestan, and its aggressive stance against Taiwan.

As the president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), a Taiwanese‑American grassroots organization that promotes freedom, human rights and democracy for the people in Taiwan, I write to you today to relay to you the concerns of Taiwanese-Americans.

As you prepare to welcome China’s President Xi Jinping to the White House, we appeal to you to reaffirm America’s support for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan.

We understand that the United States needs to engage China. However, such engagement should not come at the expense of America’s core values -‑ freedom, democracy and human rights, as embodied in the country of our birth, Taiwan.

As you know, the people of Taiwan have developed a vibrant democracy, and the country is now looking forward to presidential and legislative elections in January 2016, which will in all likelihood bring the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to power.

During the past months, the PRC has threatened of “consequences” if the DPP wins. We believe this is an unwarranted interference in Taiwan’s internal affairs, and urge you to prevail on President Xi to accept Taiwan as a friendly neighbor and move towards normalization of relations with its democratically- elected government.

We ask that you remind Mr. Xi that it is a core interest of the United States that the future of Taiwan be resolved peacefully and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan. We also urge you to refrain from proffering U.S. respect for China’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” as China lays unjustified claims to sovereignty over Taiwan.

We also ask that you impress upon Mr. Xi that China dismantle its 1,600 missiles targeted at Taiwan and renounce the use of force against Taiwan. To safeguard Taiwan is to embrace freedom, democracy and human rights. This is the best way to maintain peace and stability in Asia and is consistent with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Lastly, it is essential that China end Taiwan’s international political isolation. Taiwan is a peace‑loving country that is able and willing to carry out United Nations Charter obligations. Taiwan deserves an equal place in the international family of nations, and its people should be fully represented in international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and others.

Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you on these matters that are so important to our Taiwanese-American community.